Lebed Type XII

History of Lebed Type XII

The Russian Empire did not use many indigenous aircraft designs during World War I, relying instead on purchasing or locally producing foreign-born models. However, a locally developed system became the oft-forgotten Lebed Type XII, a practical two-seat reconnaissance biplane of which only a few hundred were produced to address lingering problems.

The Lebed manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, was previously responsible for the restoration of captured/salvaged German Imperial aircraft and licensed production by the British tabloid Sopwith.

Therefore, Lebed Type XII tries to put into practice the methods and technologies shown by foreign competitors.

The First World War began in the summer of 1914, when Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Ferdinand of Austria in Serbia on June 28. Austria-Hungary then declared war on Serbia on July 28, prompting Russia to mobilize troops.

Germany followed this mobilization, declaring war on Russia on August 1. Russia joined the Triple Entente including France and Great Britain, while Germany joined Austria-Hungary and Italy to form the Allies (though Italy was not at war at this time).

The Type XII was in service with four Luftwaffe divisions of the Russian Army operating along the Eastern Front. The hastily modified plane soon suffered from several malfunctioning (sometimes fatal) problems, including a fire-prone engine and general structural flaws.

Russian authorities then delayed further deliveries of the XII until an official decision was made. By the time the military finalized its findings, however, the Type XII was far from a controversial design on the wider spectrum of warfare - already significantly superior to the newer mounts appearing on the Western Front. The Type XII is now seen as a limited, underperforming and unreliable platform - not suitable for frontline use or training new Russian pilots. Regardless, the Type XII remains in service, and deliveries continue to support Russia's fledgling aircraft inventory. Many were relegated to training groups as a result, while front-line services remained reliant on foreign aircraft.

Of the 225 aircraft originally ordered by the government, only 214 were eventually delivered, bringing total production to 216.

Russia signed an armistice with Germany in December, followed by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918, after Russia officially withdrew from the war due to internal turmoil caused by the 1917 Revolution and the rise of the Bolsheviks (The First World War itself ended in November of the same year). When the Russian Empire became the "Soviet Union" in 1922, all Model XIIs still in service were taken over by the new Soviet Air Force.

Estonia became the only foreign operator of the Type XII, and it used only one example of its Air Force use.

Specification

Basic

Production

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Dimensions

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Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes